Dephlegmator



Dec. 28 1926. 1,612265 W. M. CROSS DEPHLEGMATOR Filed Oct. 51, 1925 $513GHQ 014mg Patented Dec. 28, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER M. CROSS, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI. ASSIGNOR T GASOLINE PRODUCTSCOMPANY, OF NEW YORK. N. Y.. A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

DEPHLEGMATOR.

Application filed October 31,1923. Serial No. 672,021.

V This invention relates to a dephlegmator which is so constructed thatthe hydro-car- 'bon vapors of a high boiling point will be separated bycondensation from those of a 6 lower boiling point and the liquidentrained with the latter vapors will be separated therefrom andtogether with the condensate will be reboiled, causing a furtherseparation.

The invention further contemplates the utilization of the charging stockas a cooling medium in thedephlegmator to separate by condensation thevapors of a high boiling point from those of a lower boiling point bycondensing the former and the absorption of the heat from the vapors bvthe charging stock to preheat the latter before it enters the still forfinal heating.

In the drawing I have illustrated a vertiwhich is preferably of similarcross-section I to that ofthe outer shell 1 but of less diameter so thata space 5 is left between the container 4 and the shell 1. Thiscontainer is provided with closed side walls, a closed bottom and anopen top 6, and is supported by suitable means such as brackets T in theshell 1 in spaced relation to the bottom of the latter, and is of suchlength that it terminates short of the top of the shell.

A pipe 8 leading from a hydro-carbon oil supply extends through theshell 1 and encircles the container 4. The end 9 of this pipe isconnected to the still in which the temperature of the oil is raised toa point of vaporization. It will be seen that in the form of theinvention illustrated in the drawing the pipe is arranged inconvolutions which are of helical form and these convolutions arelocated in the space 5 be tween the shell 1 and the container 4. Ahelical bafiie 10 is likewise arranged within this space and overliesthe convolutions ot the pipe 8 so as to cause the vapors, which passupwardly from the lower end of the shell 1, to follow a convolute patharound the coils of the pipe 8 and around the container 4.

cal sectional view of a dephlegmator con-.

At the lower end of this shell 1 a vapor space 11 is provided byapartition 12 and this vapor space connnunicates with the remainder ofthe interior of the shell 1 through a plurality of pipes 13 which haveon their upper ends. elbows 14. These elbows permit the passage of thevapors into the interior of the shell 1 but preventany return of liquidsthrough the pipes into the vapor space 11. The lower end of the shell 1is 05 provided with an outflow pipe 15 which, when the liquid in thelower end of the shell reaches a predetermined point, is opened by anautomatically operable valve 16 to permit an outflow of the liquid untilthe predetermined normal level is reached.

The outlet pipe 3 at the upper end of the tower is connected to aplurality of purifiers or separators 17 which function to separate theentrained liquid globules from the outflowing vapor. The detail of theconstruction of the purifier or separators is the same as a separatorused in steam boiler practices consisting of a plurality of obstructingor battling elements which serve to retard the flow of the vapors to theextent that the entrained liquid material therein is separated out. Eachof these separators is provided with a return pipe 18 having a dischargenozzle 19 on its lower end. These return pipes extend into the container4 with the nozzle adjacent to the lower end thereof so that theseparated liquid is returned to the lower portion of the tower anddischarged into the container 4 for further vaporization.

Connecting this container 4 with the lower end of the shell 1 is anoverflow pipe 20 which conducts the accumulated liquidfrom the container4 into the lower end of'the shell 1 when the liquid in the containerreaches a predetermined level.

It will be seen that when the vapors enter the shell 1 through the inletpipe 2 they pass from the vapor space 11 upwardly through the pipes 13and'are discharged into the tower or shell proper 1. Thus discharged,the vapors pass upwardly through the space 5 around the container 4following a convolute path between the coils of the pipe 8. The vaporsof the higher boiling point are condensed upon contact with this pipeand fall back into the lower end of the tower where'they accumulatearound the pipes 13. The vapor of the lower boiling point passes intothe upper end of the a second vaporization so that the vapors of thelower boiling point are again separated from those of the higher boilingpoint, those of the higher boiling point overflowing into the pipe 24)and back to the lower end of the tower where a further reboiling andvaporization takes place. Of course, the continuous passage of the hotvapors through the pipes 13 heats the accumulated liquid in the lowerend of the tower so that reboiling and consequent vaporization continuesuntil there remains gas-oil which is drawn off through the pipe 15 ashereinbefore described.

It is, of course, understood that the contact of the rising vapors withthe pipe 8 results in a heat exchange which not only condenses thevapors but pre-heats the oil in the pipe 8 before it reaches the still.

While I have illustrated and described a particular embodiment of myinvention it has merely been for the sake of convenience of disclosurebut I do not wish to be limited to that particular embodiment as it isobvious that many changes may be made in the details of constructionWithout departin from the spirit of the invention, or exeee ing thescope of the claim.

I claim:

A dephlegmating means. comprising a shell having vapor inlet and outletports, a partition in the lower portion of the shell, a plurality ofvertical vapor inlet pipes extending through the partition. an open to)container of less diameter than the sheil supported therein and formingan annular space for passage of the va ors from the bottom to the top ofthe she 1. means positinned in the top of the shell for separating andreturning the liquid material mechanically entrained in the vapors tothe inner container, a coil in the annular vapor space for refluxing theheavier fractions from the vapors to a pool supported by the lowerpartition wherein the liquid condensate is subjected to reheating by theheat of the incoming vapors.

WALTER M. CROSS.

